Romantic Tapas for Two is the perfect way to celebrate a quiet Valentine’s evening with a fabulous selection of appetizers.

ROMANTIC TAPAS FOR TWO

When it comes time to celebrate your love, why not do a little something special for Valentine’s Day?  Or evening…

This year I decided hubby and I would take a trip to Spain on Valentine’s evening, with a Romantic Tapas for Two spread.  I think you’ll find that a journey to the Mediterranean can inspire plenty romance in your home too!

 

ROMANCE DOESN’T BLOOM IN THE KITCHEN

When you want to have a romantic evening with your sweetheart, you don’t want to spend all your time in the kitchen.

That’s why I made sure that the menu I created was very much “do ahead”, with very little last minute preparation.

Plan to spend some time in the kitchen getting the prep work done before the day you want to serve your Romantic Tapas for Two.

In fact, my recipe for Spanish Chorizo & Shallots in Red Wine MUST be given time to soak in the red wine after cooking.  At least 8 hours, but overnight is definitely preferable.  See, just like I planned it!

And the Garlic & Gorgonzola Cheese Spread for the Tapas Garlic Toasts with Assorted Toppings can be made up to 3 days in advance.  

So you can see, this Valentine’s celebration is really a “romance friendly” one when you create your own Romantic Tapas for Two.  I’m using my coffee table to set up the Tapas spread.  I’ll have it all ready to “drop” the food on right before we get settled in for the evening way beforehand too.  

If you have everything all set to go, you’ll have plenty of time to get “dolled up” for your evening of romance. Just remember to have the champagne or custom cocktail chilling before you get ready!

 

WANT TO SPICE UP YOUR VALENTINE’S CELEBRATION EVEN MORE?

I’ve created some  more really special Valentine’s Day printables  and recipes to help you celebrate your day of romance too!

• LOVE TOKENS – They’re so fun to give to your sweetheart, and I’ve got lots of great ideas on how to package them too!
• VALENTINE’S GIFT TAGS – If you’re so inclined, you can give your sweetie a gift and use one of these very special gift tags to say I LOVE YOU!

 

• PINK PANNA COTTA WITH WHITE CHOCOLATE AND CHERRIES – It’s make ahead friendly too! You can also make individual molded versions with a pretty design in the chocolate sauce.
• FANCY VALENTINE’S CANDY HEARTS – One creative and fun afternoon will net you a whole bunch of fabulously gorgeous candies to thrill your Valentine.

 

Now let’s get started with the menu for your Romantic Tapas for Two Valentine’s celebration!

 

CHILLED MUSSELS IN TANGY VINAIGRETTE

This lively and bright vinaigrette is fabulous when used to douse chilled mussels.  The tangy flavor profile of the sauce perfectly compliments the briny flavors of fresh steamed chilled mussels. 

Since these tasty morsels are best eaten nicely chilled, you’ll want to cook the mussels in the morning on the day you serve them.  You’ll let them chill in the tangy vinaigrette all day, and when you’re ready to eat, they’ll be ready and waiting! 

Notice that I’ve shown you two different plating ideas.  The first is to present them in a low-flat container that makes it easy to grab and pop in your mouth.  The second presentation is a bit fancier, using chilled martini glasses to help class up your buffet!

Either way, make sure you provide a pretty container to dispose of the shells while feeding each other Chilled Mussels in Tangy Vinaigrette!

CLICK HERE FOR THE RECIPE:  CHILLED MUSSELS IN TANGY VINAIGRETTE

 

SPANISH PATATAS BRAVAS

Flavored with spicy Mediterranean ingredients, these potatoes get an extra boost of intensity from fabulous Spanish sherry. They’re a wonderful Tapas treat, especially when combined with a whole Tapas-style meal.

My Spanish Patatas Bravas is one of the most traditional tapas recipes you’ll encounter.  I’ve eaten them in Spain as part of a “tapas tour” in Barcelona and across the United States.

They appear with slight variations from place to place, but the basics are always the same.  Potatoes, tomatoes, onions and smoky paprika.  

This version kicks up the Spanish flavors a bit more with the addition of a good quality Spanish Sherry.  It makes all the difference, so please don’t skip this ingredient!

CLICK HERE FOR THE RECIPE: SPANISH PATATAS BRAVAS

 

SPANISH CHORIZO & SHALLOTS IN RED WINE

Spicy Spanish chorizo becomes intensely flavored when cooked and steeped a bold red wine and sweet sauteed shallots.  Speared with toothpicks, Spanish Chorizo & Shallots in Red Wine is a fabulous tapas dish when served with crusty French bread.

As I mentioned before, this dish needs to be started at least the day before.  The great part is it can be made up to 2 days before serving.

The chorizo only requires a fast reheating, and the final flambé treatment with some more of that fabulous Spanish sherry you bought!  Why buy a whole bottle and not use it twice?  

This is one of those incredibly simple dishes that is truly more than the sum of its parts!  Do Not Skip This Recipe! 

Unless you’re a vegetarian, of course!  In that case, let’s talk about the next recipe in your Romantic Tapas for Two menu…

CLICK HERE FOR THE RECIPE: SPANISH CHORIZO & SHALLOTS IN RED WINE

 

TAPAS GARLIC TOASTS WITH ASSORTED TOPPINGS

My Tapas Garlic Toasts with Assorted Toppings is a tasty combination of garlic toasts with Mediterranean flavors that will please everyone’s taste buds!  These delicious bruscetta-style toasts are a perfect addition to any Spanish Tapas-style meal.

Here’s my three different topping suggestions that should really help you “channel” your inner-Spaniard!

• DRIED BEEF WITH GARLIC & GORGONZOLA – I used a lovely thinly sliced Bresaola dried beef to top my favorite savory spread.  Garnished with long sliced chives, it’s a really delicious combination that’s a fab appetizer any time of the year. 
• MEDITERRANEAN VEGIES & MANCHEGO – Tossed in good quality Spanish olive oil, kosher salt and freshly ground pepper, this combo is killer!  Roasted red peppers, olives, fresh parsley and Manchego cheese are combined into a relish that’s just plain out of this world.  If you can’t find Manchego, try to find a nicely spiced cheese to give this mixture it’s characteristic flavor.
• PESTO CAPRESE – This one is sooo easy, and is just a matter of combining prepared ingredients into a fast and tasty bruscetta.  First, find some good quality jarred basil pesto. Then pick up a package of those adorable fresh mozzarella “pearls”, a few assorted colors of grape tomatoes, and you’re golden!  

 

CLICK HERE FOR THE RECIPE: TAPAS GARLIC TOASTS WITH ASSORTED TOPPINGS

Remember those romantic Valentine’s printables I mentioned earlier?  Here’s how to get exclusive access to the IFAFL Subscribers Resource Library.

 

VALENTINE’S DAY ROMANTIC PRINTABLES 

Want your own set of VALENTINE’S DAY ROMANTIC PRINTABLES, but you’re not on our list yet?

Why not join in on the fun!

Fill out the form below and I’ll send you a copy as a thank you for joining the IFAFL Email Subscriber List.

As a Ingredients For A Fabulous Life Subscriber, you’ll get instant access to the IFAFL Resource Library and receive our twice-weekly emails.

What are you waiting for?  You don’t want to miss out on anything fabulous, do you? 

There’s always something fabulous happening here at Ingredients For A Fabulous Life, don’t you want to stay in the loop?  

And while you’re at it, come join the gang in our Facebook group and get in on the gabfest at, The Fab Life!  That’s where we show off our triumphs and share our pursuit of “the good life” with each other all week long.